Coin-controlled turnstile



Aug. 12, 1930; w. w. SLAWSON 72,

. COIN CONTROLLED TURNSTILE Filed April 27, 1928 Patented Aug. 12, 1930.

PATENT OFFICE WARD'W. SLAWSQN, OF-SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTScorn-CONTROLLED TU'R'NSTIL'E Application filed April 27,

This invention relates to a turnstile of that character in whichoperation of the turnstile is controlledbya coin and particularly 7 to aturnstile which is normally locked and is unlocked by a coin depositedin a coin box.

In apparatus of this character as now constructedand known to me, thecoin, after it has unlocked the turnstile, is automatically removed fromits operative position, by a 19 portion of the apparatus, and theturnstile is again locked, and remains in this condition until unlockedby another coin. I

In apparatus of this character, it is possible to unlock the turnstileby an abnormal coin or device, which remains in its deposited positionand is not removed therefrom by the portion of the apparatus whichremoves the normal coin. L

By means of the abnormal coin, the turnstile may be unlocked andbemaintained in this condition asjlongas theabnormal coin remains in itsdeposited position, thereby allowing any number of persons ;to passthrough the turnstile without paying, until the abnormal coin has beenremoved.

The present invention has 'for its object to provide a coin-controlledturnstile in which the turnstile is unlocked and x then locked by anormal coin, and is unlocked and then locked by an abnormal coin, withthe latter in its unlocking position, withthe'result that but a'single'person canpass through the turnstile'by the deposit of a coineither normal or abnormal. l

In the present instance, the invention is embodiedin an electricallycontrolledturn- V stile, in which an electromagnet is employed to unlockthe turnstile, and is controlled by second electromagnet or relay, whichin turn is controlled by the coin.

In a turnstile of this character, the relay is energized by the coinclosing the circuit of said relay, and the latter when energized closesthe circuit of the unlocking magnet,

which when energized unlocks the turnstile.- Under normal conditions ofuse, that is, when the circuit of the relay isclosed by a normal coin,the latter is dislodged to open the relay circuit when the relay isenergized. Under abnormal conditions of use, that is,

enable its operation to be understood, the

and the removal of the latter from its oper- 1928. Serial No. 273,251.

when the circuit of the relay is closed by an abnormal coin, the latteris not dislodged by the relay when energized,but remains in itscircuit-closing position, which in the. absence of the presentinvention, would maintain the unlocking magnet energized and therebykeep the turnstile unlocked until the abnormal coin was removed.

- In accordance withthepresent invention, provision is made for takingthe relay and thereby the unlocking magnet out of the control of theabnormal coin, so that, when the relay is energized by the abnormalcoin, the circuit of the relay is opened at a'difierent point when therelay is energized, which permits the circuit of the unlocking magnet tobe opened by the relay and the turnstile to be locked, with the abnormalcoinin its circuit-closing position. l

To this end, an auxiliary relay is employed which acts to open thecircuit of the main relay and to maintain it"open as long asthe abnormalcoin remains'inits circuit-closing position. p

These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in theclaims at the end of this specification.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coin-controlled turnstile embodying thisinvention; I

' Fig. 2, an elevation of the turnstile shown in Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3, a diagrammatic view of a suflicient portion of theapparatusshown in Fig. 1 to parts being arranged to illustrate the normalposition of the apparatus and about to be operated by a normal coin; i

Fig. 4:, a view like Fig. 3, illustrating the unlocking of the turnstilebythe normal coin ative position shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a view like Fig. 4 illustrating the operation with an abnormalcoin, and j Fig. 6, a developed view of the movable circuit-controllingmembers carried by the turnstile.

The mechanical portion of the apparatus is and may be such as now usedin subways, railway stations and other places where entrance is gainedby depositing in a receptacle a coin or other device indicative ofthecharge for admission. In the present instance, only a suificient portionof the apparatus is illustrated to enable the invention to be readilyunderstood.

10 represents a rotatable turnstile which foo-operates with a rail 12 toforma passageway 13 through which persons pass after depositing a coin,or like dev1ce lndicative of the charge for admission. For the presentpurposes, the coin maybeconsid'ered asa dime, and that the turnstile isused at the entrance to a railway station, as, for instance, a subway.

Located near the rail12is a coin box 15' intowhieh the dime, representedby the circle 16.in.Fig.-3,,is deposited by aperson passing into the.passageway 13 inthe direction indicatedby. thearrow in Fig. 1..

Thezcoinboxlfi contains a relay 17, which will behereinafter referredtoas the main relay,.and.said main relay is-includedin an electric circuitprovided with yielding metal fingers or contact members 20, 21 spacedapart and locateddnthe coin'box 15 below a slot 22.]therein, andarranged to be electrically connected together by the coin 16 after thelatter haspassed' into the coin box.

The fingers 20, 21 co operate with the coin 16 to. formacircuitcontroller for tllGIDfLlll relay 17, which circuit controllerwill be hereinafter, termed the coin-circuit controller.

'Themainrelay-li functions to control the operation of an electromagnet23,.which functionsv to unlock. the turnstile 1O and'permit the. latter.to be rotated a-quarter-turn by the person who has deposited the coin 16in the coinboxawhich coin may be designated the normal coin. The shaft2a of the turnstile isprovided with contact members 25correspondinginnumber to the number of arms of the turnstile, which isfour as herein represented.

Each of these contact members 25 is adapted to bebrought into engagementwith a pair of contact arms 26, 27 spaced apart and. suitably support-edwithin the hollow standard or upright 28 upon which the turnstileisrotatably mounted. Each movable contactmember 25 co-opera-tes withthepair tery.

the relay 17 is completed by the normal coin 16 engaging the contactmembers 20, 21, as represented in Fig. 3.

The circuit of the main relay 17 being thus completed energizes the mainrelay, which attracts its armature and closes the circuit of theunlocking elcctromagnet 23, which run locks the turnstile and permitsthe dcpositor of the coin 16 to rotate the turnstile a quartertam andpass through the passage 13 and enter. the station. The main relay 1? ispreferably made as a solenoid and its armature or core is represented bythe line 30 in Fig. 3.

The armature 30 is provided with a movable-contact member 31 whichco-operates with terminals or contactmembers32, 33 to form a circuitcontroller for the unlocking magnet. 23. lVhen the main; relay isenergized, the circuit of, the unlocking magnet 23 completed at thecircuit controller 31, 32, .33, and the turnstile 10 is unlocked. Themechanical mechanism of the turnstile is such that when-the main relay17 is energized, the normal coin 16 is ejected or caused to pass betweenthe contact fingers 20, 21 and fall to the bottom of the coin box,thereby opening the circuit of the main relay at thecoincircuitcontrollen. This would deenergize the locking; magnet 23 and.cause the I turnstile to be locked it provisionwere not madeto provide.a circuit for maintaining the main relay energized independently, ofthe coin-circuit controller. This is accomplished Qby a contact. member.3 1...on.the armature. 30 oft-he main relay, co-operating, withterminals or contact. members 35,36 to completes circuit for. the. mainrelayaswill .be described.

.As sooua's the circuit of the main relay 17 is .completedby. the coin16, the main relay is energizedand theauxiliary circuit thereforiscompletedxatthe circuit controller 34:, 3'5, 36

before or. at on about, the time the coin 16 opensthe initialkcircuitfor the main relayby passing. out of contact. with. the terminals20,211.

This condition-of the circuits of the main relay. 17 ando'ttheimlocking.magnet 23 is represented in Fig.4.. 7

The circuit through the. main. relay'may be traced as follows: from thebattery 38 or other source of currentby wire to the turn-StllesClICllllJ controller. 26, 25,. 27, thence by wire 39-to.mainrelay17, through the latter and by wires: 4:0, .41 and circuit controller 35,Si, 36 and'wire 42m groinidwl3,thence by wire at back .to the. battery.38.

The circuit .of. the unlocking magnet 23 maybe. traced as follows Fromthe. batter r 38 byrwire ethunlockingmaagnet 23-, wire 16, circuit.eontrollerr. 32, 31,. wires 47, 42 to ground 13 and thenyceiby wireMeback' to' hat- Themain-relay 17 is 'nowunder control of theturnstile-circuit controller, which latter'is opened when .theidepositorof the coin turns and thereby the turnstile suiliciently to move thecontact member 25 out of engagement with the con-. tact members 26, 2 7.

Deenergizing of the main relay 17 as just described, allows the armature30 to drop and open the'circuit of the unlocking magnet 23 and permitthe turnstile, by means of the next contact member 25, to close thecircuit of the main relay at the'turnstile-circuit controller, and placesaid main relay circuit in condition to be completed by the next coindeposited, the turnstile being at such time locked. i V

The apparatus operates in the manner above described, providing the coinis' a proper or normal' one, which can be dislodged from contact withthe contact fingers or members 20, 21 when the main relayis energized.If, however, there is deposited in the coin box, an abnormal coin ormetal disk approximating the dimensions of the normal coin, so as topermit it'to be deposited in the coin box and engage the contact members20, 21, but is of such size or construction as not to be dislodged whenthe main relay'is energized, such abnormal coin would maintain thecircuit of the main relay closed at the coin-circuit controller.

Under these conditions, the circuit of the locking magnet 23 isinitially closed when the circuit of the main relay is completed at thecoin-circuit controller, ismomentarily opened at the circuit controller31, 32, 33, when the main relaycircuit is opened at theturnstile-circuit controller 25,-- 26, 27, and again closed when themain relay-is again en'- ergized, by the closing of theturnstlle-circuit controller, which occurs when the turnstile has beenrotated a qiiarter-turn'by the depositor of the abnormal coin passingthrough the turnstile. I c I It will thus be seen that an indefimtenumber of persons may pass through the'turnstile as long as thecoin-circuit controller remains closed by the abnormal com, therebyoccasloning a decided loss of revenue. p

The present invention has for its ob ect to avoidsuch loss oi revenue,and to this end, provision is made for deenergizing the main relayindependentlyof the coin-clrcuit controller after said main relayhasbeen initially energized by the abnormal coin, and to maintain saidmain relay deenergized, as long as the coin-circuit controller is closedby the abnormal coin. I i I Inasmuch as the clrcuit of the unlockingmagnet 23 is open as long'asthe main relay is deenergzed, the turnstilewill remain locked be prevented from being turned until the abnormalcoin'has been removed by a duly authorized person.

. To eilect these desirable results, the circuit of the main relay 17 isprovided with'a second circuit. controller,'comprising a stationarycontact member and a co-operating movable contact member 51, whichlatter is connected with the armature or core 52 of an auxiliarysolenoid or relay 53, whichlatter is included in a circuit governed inpart by the coin-circuit controller and in part by a circuit controlleractuated by the main relay and comprising a movable contact member 54which is attached to the core or armature 30 of the main relay, andco-operating con tact-members 55, 56. I

As represented in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the auxiliary relay 53 has one endof its coil connected by wire 57 withthe member 20' of the coin-circuitcontroller, and has the other end of its coilconnected by wire 58withthe stationary contact member of the circuit controller 55, 54, 56,the stationary contact member 56'being connected by wires 59, 45 to thebattery 38 or other source of current;'whichis represented as connectedthrough the ground 43 with the member 21' of the coin-circuitcontroller.

Under normal conditions, the coin-circuit controller is open and themain and auxiliary relays 17 53 are deenergized. The circuit controller51, 50 governed by the'auxiliary relay 53 is closed and the circuitcontroller 54, 55,56 governed by the main relay is opened.

It will thus be seen thatthe main relay 17 is included in a circuitprovided with three circuit controllers, one of which is thecoincircuitcontroller, the second the circuit controller 51, 50 governedby the auxiliary relay 53, and the third the circuit controller :25, 26,27 governedby the turnstile.

Under normal conditions, the coin-circuit controller is open and theother two circuit controllersare closed. '1

When a normal or an'abnormal coin is deposited in the coin box'15, thecircuit of the main relay 17 is completed. This circuitis represented bythe heavy black lines in Fig. 3 and may be traced as follows: from thebattery 38 by Wire 60, turnstile-circuit controller S 1.10

26,25, 27, wire 39, main relay 17, wire 40,

circuit controller 50, 51, wires 61', 57 coincircuit controller 20, 16,21, wire 62, ground 43 and wire 44 back to the battery. i

The main relay 17 is energized and'closes the three circuit controllers,to witzthe circuit controller 34, 35, 36 for the circuit of the mainrelay independently of the'coincircuit controller; the circuitcontroller 31, 32, 33 for the circuit of the unlocking magnet 23; andthe circuit controller 54, 55, 56 for the auxiliary relay 53.

The circuit for thezmain relay 17 independently of the coin-circuitcontroller is represented by heavy black lines in Fig. 4, and may betraced as followsz f'rom the battery 38 -bv wire 60, turnstile-circuitcontroller 26,

25, 27 wire 39, main relay 17, wires40, 41, circuit controller 34,35,36, wire 42, ground 43 and wire 44 back to the battery38.

The circuitthrough the unlocking magnet tery 38 by wires 60, 45, 5'9,circuitlcontroller 56,54, 55, wire 58, auxiliary relay 53,.wire

, 57, circuit controller 20, 16, 21, ground 43 andwire 44 back to thebattery. I

Thiscircuit for theauxiliary relay may bettermed the energizing circuittherefor and is-closedwhenthe main relay 17 is energized bythe.depositof; the abnormal coin 16" represented inFig. 5. It would beopened by deenergizing the maiinrelay 17 when'the depositor of theabnormal coin passes through the-turnstile, if provision were not madeto' provide a circuit for the auxiliary relay independentlyofthe-circuit controller. 54, 55, 56 operated by the main relay. To thisend thet'auxilary relayl53 operates a second circuitcontroller,-cmprising a movable memher-7'0 attached to the core 52 ofsaid auxiliarywrelayand a stationary contact member 71,.the movablemember. 70 being connected by wire72 to the wire 59' of the energizingcircuit; and .thestationary member 71 being connected'bywire 73-to thewire 58 of said energizing. circuit. The circuit controller 70, 71 isnormally open and is closed when the energizing circuit for theauxiliary relay 53 is"completed.by-the circuit controller 54, 55, 56when the main relay 17 is energized.

The circuit for the auxiliary relay 53 including the circuitcontroller 7O, 71 may be designated the Y maintaining circuit for the auxiliaryrelay. I 7

It remains closedas long as the abnormal coin l6 'remains in contactwith thecontact members 20, 21.

This-maintaining circuit is represented in Figs by heavybl-ack lines andmaybe traced followsafxom the battery 38-by wires 60, 45, 59,72,.circuit controller 70, 71, wires 73,

58, vrelay53', wire.57, coin controller 20, 16,

' turnstile.

- When-the circuit of the main relay 17 is closed by tlieabnormal coin16, the controller members 34 31, 54 are moved: into their closedpositions as shownin Fig. 5,-the turnstile is unlocked and the depositorof the abnormal coin 16 can pass through the turnstile. -On passingthrough, the turnstile is rotated and the contact which engages thecontact members 26, 27 is moved out of engagement with'the latter, andthe circuit of the main relay 17 is momentarily opened and then closedat the turnstile by the next adjacent contact 25.

When the circuit ofthe relay 17 is momentarily opened at the turnstile,the said relay is deenergized, and the controller members 34, 31, 54 aremoved into their open position shown in Fig. 3, but the auxiliary relay53 is not deenergized by the opening of the controller member 54, as thecircuit of the auxiliary relay 53 is maintained closed by the abnormalcoin 16 and by the controller member 70.

When the circuit of the'main relay 17 is reestablished, as shown in Fig.5, by the depositor of the abnormal coin 16 rotating the turnstile 10 aquarter-turn, the circuit of the main relay is open at the controller50, 51 and the turnstile is locked and maintained locked and put out ofcommission until the abnormal coin 16 is removed by an authorizedperson.

In this manner other persons in collusion with the depositor of theabnormal coin are prevented from passing through the turnstile.

The movable member 54 of the circuit controller for the auxiliary relay,will be arranged to close the circuit of said relay, after the movablemembers 31 and 34 on the core of the main relay have completed theircircuits; 4

The turnstile-operating construction including the mechanism for lockingthe turnstile and the unlocking magnet 23 co-operatingcwithrsaid lockingmechanism is located in the hollowcasing or pedestal 28 and may be suchas shown in United States Patent No. 1,655,501 dated January 10, 1928,to which reference may be had, as such mechanism is not herein claimed.

The main relay 17, the circuit controllers actuated thereby, theauxiliary relay 53, the circuit controllers actuated by it, and thecoin-circuit controller may be located in the coin box 15, as indicatedby dotted lines in FL; 2.

From the above description, it will be ob served that the turnstile isautomatically controlled by the deposited coin, and the services of anattendant are not required, and it will further be observed that theturnstile will continue to function and permit the depositors to pass ina continuous manner as long as each depositor places a normal coin inthe coin box, but that the turnstile is rendered inoperative and put outof commission, when an abnormal coin is deposited in the coin box. As aresult, railways and other users of turnstiles embodying this inventionare prevented from suffering substantial losses.

One embodiment of the invention is herein shown, but it is not desiredto limit the invention to the particular embodiment shown. What isclaimed is: i 1. The combination with a turnstile normally lockedagainst rotation in one direction, of an electromagnet for unlockingsaid turnstile, a circuit controller governing the operation of saidunlocking magnet, a main relay governing the operation of said circuitcontroller, a circuit for said main relay provided with acoin-controlled circuit controller and with a second circuit controlleroperated by said turnstile, a circuit controller operated by the mainrelay to establish a circuit for the latter and place the main relayunder control of the turnstile-circuit controller, an auxiliary relay, acircuit controller operated by said auxiliary relay and included in thecoin-controlled circuit of said main relay and normally closed, acircuit controller operated by said main relay and operating to energizesaidauxiliary relay in conjunction with said coin-circuit controller, asecond circuit controller operated by said auxiliary relay and normallyopen, said auiliary relay when onergized acting to operate the normallyclosed circuit controller to open the same and deenergize the main relaywith the coin-circuit controller closed, and acting on the normally opencircuit controller to close a circuit throughthe auxiliaryrelay andmaintain the latter energized with the energizing circuit for theauxiliary relay closed at the coin-cir cuit controller and opened at thecircuit controller operated'by the main relay.

2. The combination with a turnstile normally locked against rotation inone direction, of an electromagnet for unlocking said turnstile, acircuit controller governing the operation of said unlocking magnet, amain,

relay governing the operation of said circuit controller, a circuit forsaid main relay provided with a coin-circuit controller and with asecond circuit controller normally: closed,

and an auxiliary relay governed by the main v relay and operating toopen said second circuit controller and thereby open the circuit of themain relay with the latter circuit closed at the coinicontroller,

- 3. The combination with a turnstile normally locked against rotationin one direction, of an electromagnet for unlocking said turnstile, acircuit controller governing the operation of said unlocking magnet, amain relay governing the operation of said circuit closed at the coincontroller, and a second circuit controller operated by the auxiliaryrelay to maintain a circuit therefor in conunction with the com-circuitcontroller whena the energizing circuit-of the auxiliary relay is openedby deenergizingof the main relay.

4. The combination with a turnstile, of an electromagnet controlllingthe operation thereof, a main relay controlling the operation of saidelectromagnet, a coin-circuit controller governingthe operation of saidmain relay and an auxiliary relay also governing the operation of saidmain relay and nonresponsive to the operation of said coin-circuitcontroller by a normal coin to aiiect the circuit of the main relay andresponsive to the operation of the coin-circuit controller i by anabnormal coin to affect the circuit of the main relay.

'5. The combination with a turnstile nor mally locked against rotationin one direction, of meansforunlocking said turnstile, means responsiveto a normal coin for controlling saidunlocking means to permit theturnstile to be unlocked with the normal coin in its operative positionand to be again said turnstile and maintain it ineffective as long asthe relay remalns under the control of said abnormal coin.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

' WARD W, SLAVVSON.

controller, a circuit for said main relay provided with a coin-circuitcontroller and with a second clrcuit controller normally closed,

an auxiliary relay governed by the main relay and operating to open saidsecond circuit controller andthereby openrthe circuit of the main relaywith the latter circuit

